Silvio Johan Duarte Sáenz

Cumbres de algodón

Introduction

Cumbres de algodón. Análisis de Río+20. Este estudio critica el "consenso de algodón", un lenguaje vago sobre desarrollo sostenible que impactó a líderes latinoamericanos, contrastando con debates políticos globales.

Abstract

Este trabajo elabora una lectura regional sobre el documento de la Segunda Cumbre Mundial sobre el Desarrollo Sostenible de las Naciones Unidas (Río+20), sus modos de escenificación del consenso y los efectos de reconocimiento que dicho discurso generó en los líderes políticos latinoamericanos presentes en dicho acontecimiento. A partir del cruce entre la crítica genética y el análisis del discurso, se aborda el proceso de escritura del documento El futuro que queremos (2012) y se destaca el lugar que los sintagmas desarrollo sostenible y economía verde tuvieron en el proceso de configuración de un acuerdo anodino al que denominamos como consenso de algodón. Dicho consenso se caracterizó por el despliegue de una serie de tautologías, circunloquios y redundancias visibles a partir del contraste genético, pero sobre todo a partir de la inserción de fórmulas nominales fijas y prolongadas que admiten un alto grado de ambigüedad. Este tipo de rasgos configuran un lenguaje de algodón que se caracteriza por su vaguedad, imprecisión e higiene respecto de cuestiones políticas de envergadura global, el cual contrasta con las formas polémicas que adquieren las voces latinoamericanas presentes en el acontecimiento.

Review

This paper, "Cumbres de algodón," offers a compelling regional reading of the United Nations' Second World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) document, "The Future We Want" (2012). Employing a robust methodology that merges genetic critique with discourse analysis, the authors meticulously deconstruct the writing process of this foundational text. The core contribution lies in identifying and theorizing what they term the "consenso de algodón" (cotton consensus), a novel conceptualization that effectively captures the specific modes of consensus-building and the subsequent recognition effects on Latin American political leaders present at the event. The title itself, "Cumbres de algodón," cleverly foreshadows the paper's central argument about the nature of these international agreements. The strength of this work lies in its precise characterization of the "consenso de algodón." The abstract highlights its formation through the pervasive use of tautologies, circumlocutions, and redundancies, made visible through genetic contrast, and further solidified by fixed, prolonged nominal formulas that inherently admit high degrees of ambiguity. This analytical lens allows the authors to delineate a "lenguaje de algodón," a distinct discursive style marked by its vagueness, imprecision, and a strategic "hygiene" regarding significant global political issues. Crucially, the paper illuminates a stark contrast between this deliberately anodyne language of the official document and the more polemical and direct voices of Latin American participants, offering a critical perspective on how power dynamics and political expediency shape international environmental discourse. Overall, "Cumbres de algodón" presents an original and insightful contribution to the fields of discourse analysis, political science, and environmental studies. Its innovative conceptualization of the "consenso de algodón" and "lenguaje de algodón" provides a powerful framework for understanding the complexities and often deliberate obfuscations embedded within international agreements. The paper effectively critiques the superficiality of consensus achieved through such linguistic strategies and offers valuable insights into the recognition effects on regional political actors. This work is highly recommended for its methodological rigor, conceptual novelty, and its ability to shed critical light on the often-opaque nature of global sustainability negotiations.

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